Mock Caldecott Panel: Spring Edition

Today was the annual Mock Caldecott panel session with Dr. Mary Rycik's EDEC 323 Tradebooks and Technology with Literature class. Students met in the IRC to review and evaluate picture books, voting on a winner and honor book; titles selected meet Caldecott Medal criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Prior to the session (in class):Students were introduced to elements picture book art and illustration such as layout, design, form and function, balance, use of space, and the importance of art telling the story. Artistic media and style, as well as the parts of a picture book are discussed.

About the titles:Twenty picture books were considered; the selection included a mix of artists publishing their first picture book and well known and award-winning illustrators. A variety of artistic mediums were represented such as collage, gauche, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media. Most of the titles are new to the library juvenile collection.

All of the titles are available on the Mock Caldecott Panel  Pinterest board:



Students reviewed nominated titles, and completed two rounds of voting to select a final winner and two honor books.  The Mock Caldecott winner for Spring 2016 is :

• Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
  PZ7.M43541 Fin 2015

Honor book distinction was given to:

• Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of  a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, A Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-Loving Rubber Ball
  PZ7.J4134 Tpm 2015
• Little Tree
  PZ7.L8555 Lit 2015

For additional information about the panel and books, visit the IRC web site Mock Caldecott Panels page or the EDEC 323 LibGuide.  All of the books considered for this session are available on the second floor new book shelves directly outside of the Instructional Resource Center.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Today was our annual Mock Caldecott panel session with Dr. Mary Rycik's EDEC 323 Tradebooks and Technology with Literature class. Students met in the IRC to review and evaluate picture books, voting on a winner and honor book; titles selected meet Caldecott Medal criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Prior to the session (in class):Students were introduced to elements picture book art and illustration such as layout, design, form and function, balance, use of space, and the importance of art telling the story. Artistic media and style, as well as the parts of a picture book are discussed.

About the titles:Twenty-three picture books were considered; the selection included a mix of artists publishing their first picture book and well known and award-winning illustrators. A variety of artistic mediums were represented such as collage, gauche, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media. Most of the titles are new to the library juvenile collection.

All of the titles are available on the Mock Caldecott Panel IRC Pinterest board:



Students reviewed nominated titles, and completed two rounds of voting to select a final winner and two honor books.  The Mock Caldecott winner for Fall 2015 is :

• The Night World
  written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
  PZ7.G325 Nig 2015

Honor book distinction was given to:

• My Pen
  written and illustrated by Christopher Myers
  PZ7.M9825 My 2015
• If You Plant a Seed
  written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
  PZ7.N434457 If 2015

For additional information about the panel and books, visit the IRC web site Mock Caldecott Panels page or the EDEC 323 LibGuide.  All of the books considered for this session are available on the second floor new book shelves directly outside of the Instructional Resource Center.

Mock Caldecott Session

Today was the annual spring term Mock Caldecott panel session with Dr. Mary Rycik's EDEC 323 Tradebooks and Technology with Literature class. Students met in the IRC to review and evaluate picture books; titles selected for the panel session meet criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Prior to the session (in class):Students were introduced to elements picture book art and illustration such as layout, design, form and function, balance, use of space, and the importance of art telling the story. Artistic media and style, as well as the parts of a picture book are discussed.

About the titles:Twenty-two picture books were considered; the selection included well known and award-winning illustrators as well as those new to picture book art. A variety of artistic mediums were represented such as collage, gauche, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media.



Students narrowed the initial twenty-two titles to four and voted for their winner. The Mock Caldecott winner, the overwhelming choice for this panel session was:

• Blizzard, by author and illustrator John Rocco

Honor book distinction was given to:

• Circle, Square, Moose, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

For additional information, visit the IRC web site Mock Caldecott Panels page, IRC Mock Caldecott Pinterest Board, or the EDEC 323 LibGuide.

All of the books considered for this session are now available on the second floor new book shelves directly outside of the Instructional Resource Center.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Today was the annual fall term Mock Caldecott award panel session with Dr. Mary Rycik's EDEC 323 Tradebooks and Technology with Literature class. Students met in the IRC to review and evaluate picture books; titles selected for the panel session meet criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Prior to the session (in class): Students were introduced to elements picture book art and illustration such as layout, design, form and function, balance, use of space, and the importance of art telling the story. Artistic media and style, as well as the parts of a picture book are discussed.

About the titles: Twenty picture books considered are recent additions to the AU library juvenile collection. The selection included well known and award-winning illustrators as well as those new to picture book art. A variety of artistic mediums were represented such as collage, gauche, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media.



Students narrowed the initial twenty titles to four and voted for their winner. The Mock Caldecott winner, an overwhelming choice with 17 of 19 votes was:

• Baby Bear, by author and illustrator Kadir Nelson 

Honor book distinction was given to:

• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems, illustrated by Melissa Sweet 

For additional information, visit the IRC web site Mock Caldecott Panels page, IRC Mock Caldecott Pinterest Board, or the EDEC 323 LibGuide.

All of the books considered for this session are now available on the second floor new book shelves directly outside of the Instructional Resource Center.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Each semester, Dr. Mary Rycik's EDEC 323 Tradebooks and Technology with Literature students meet in the IRC to conduct a Mock Caldecott Award Panel. Titles selected for review by the panel meet criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

About the titles: Picture books considered were recent additions to the AU library juvenile collection and included well known illustrators and those new to the picture book category. A variety of artistic mediums were represented including collage, guache, painted olis, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media.



Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown, was selected as the Mock Caldecott Award winner. The Dark, illustrated by Jon Klassen, was selected as an honor book. All of the titles reviewed are located on the IRC Mock Caldecott Panels Pinterest board.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Each semester, Dr. Mary Rycik's Tradebooks and Technology class meets in the IRC to conduct a Mock Caldecott Panel. This year's fall panel was held Tuesday, September 3rd. Picture book titles selected for review followed criteria established by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

About the titles: Picture books considered were recent additions to the AU library juvenile collection (June 2013 - August 2013) and included well known illustrators and those new to the picture book category. A variety of artistic mediums were represented including collage, guache, painted olis, pencil, watercolors, and mixed media.



Students selected Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song, illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney, as their choice for the Mock Caldecott Award. Two honor books were selected by the group; Papa's Mechanical Fish, illustrated by Boris Kulikov, and Little Red Hot, illustrated by Laura Huliska Beith. All of the titles reviewed are located on the IRC Mock Caldecott Panels Pinterest board.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Dr. Mary Rycik's children's literature classes participated in a Mock Caldecott Award session Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Criteria and terms followed were those used by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Titles selected for review mix well known illustrators with artists new to the field of picture books illustration. A variety of art mediums are represented including collage, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, ink, acrylics, and mixed media. Each book considered was a recent addition to the library's juvenile collection (November 2011 - January 2012). 

Students considered eighteen (18) picture books and narrowed the original field five semi-finalists and then  voted for a winner and honor book:

And our winner is: 

Balloons Over Broadway, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

And our honor book winner is ...

Neville, illustrated by G. Brian Karas

A complete list of picture books considered by Dr. Rycik's class, links to more information about each picture book's illustrator, and resources for the Caldecott Award, is featured on the IRC web site's Mock Caldecott Panel page. 

The Association for Library Services for Children's Book and Media Award winners will be announced from the ALA mid-winter meetings in Dallas, TX, on Monday, January 23, 2012.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Dr. Mary Rycik's children's literature classes participated in a Mock Caldecott Award session Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Criteria and terms followed were those used by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee.

Titles selected for review mix well known illustrators with artists new to the field of picture books illustration. A variety of art mediums are represented including collage, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, ink, acrylics, and mixed media. Each title under consideration is a recent addition to the library's juvenile collection (July 2011 - September 2011). 

Students considered eighteen (18) picture books and narrowed the original field four semi-finalists;  If I Never Forever Endeavor (Holly Meade), The Great Race (Kevin O'Malley), Farmyard Beat (Marc Brown), and Grandpa Green (Lane Smith). The final decision was clear as only two of the four featured titles received votes from the group.

And the winner is ... Grandpa Green, by Lane Smith

Below is a list of picture books considered by Dr. Rycik's class, all title featured here link to the Ashland University library catalog:

• A Ball for Daisy
• Bone Dog
• Boy Wonders
• Clink
• Detective Little Boy Blue
• Fabulous! A Portrait of Andy Warhol
• Farmyard Beat
• Grandpa Green
• The Great Race
• If I Never Forever Endeavor
• The Little Little Girl with the Big Big Voice
• Passing the Music Down
• Perfect Square
• No Sleep for the Sheep!
• The Sleepless Little Vampire
• Substitute Creacher
• We Are America
• Where's Walrus?

Additional information about the Caldecott Award and other children's literature awards may be found on the Children's Literature Award Book Resource LibGuide.

Mock Caldecott Panel

Dr. Mary Rycik's children's literature classes participated in a Mock Caldecott Award session Tuesday, January 18, 2011. Criteria and terms followed were those used by the Association for Library Services for Children, American Library Association Medal committee. This session was planned to review titles with eligibility for the 2010 Caldecott Award to be announced during ALA's Midwinter meetings (San Diego, CA) in January 2011.

Titles selected for review mix well known illustrators with artists new to the field of picture books illustration. A variety of art mediums are represented including collage, painted oils, pencil, watercolors, ink, acrylics, and mixed media. Each title under consideration is a recent addition to the library's juvenile collection (November 2010 - January 2011).

The panel considered sixteen (16) books as possible contenders for the award and narrowed the original field four semi-finalists; Elsie's Bird, Air Show, Art & Max, and The Secret Cave. It was an interesting final selection, the winner had only two votes more than the honor book selected and two additional titles tied.


2011 Mock Caldecott Winner: Art & Max

2011 Mock Caldecott Honor Book: Elsie's Bird



Below is a full ist of the titles considered by Dr. Rycik's class, all titles featured here link to the Ashland University library catalog:

• Elsie's Bird
  PZ7.Y78 El 2010
• Art & Max
  PZ7.W6367 Art 2010
• The Secret Cave
  GN772.3.M3 M33 2010
• Air Show!
  PZ7.W66829 Ai 2010
• Ruth and the Green Book
  PZ7.R145 Ru 2010
• Piggy Pie Poe
  PZ8.3 .W848 Pi 2010
• The Tortoise or the Hare
  PZ8.2.M673 Tor 2010
• Chicken Big
  PZ7.G774 Ch 2010
• Dust Devil
  PZ7.I762 Dus 2010
• The Odious Ogre
  PZ7.J98 Od 2010
• The Boy in the Garden
  PZ7.S2744 Bo 2010
• Rain School
  PZ7.R8878 Rai 2010
• Odetta, The Queen of Folk
  ML 3930.O34 O34 2010
• Betsy Red Hoodie
  PZ7.L578345 Bb 2010
• I Am the Dog
  PZ7.P6335 Iab 2010

Information about the 2011 Caldecott & Newbery award winning titles may be found on the previous blog post, 2011 Caldecott & Newbery Awards.